05/06/2013 - Protagonist Pictures closes a raft of deals

Protagonist Pictures has announced several territory sales on Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Clio Barnard
interview: Clio Barnard
film profile] following its world premiere launch in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes (review). Pyramide Films have acquired the film for France, Rialto Films for Australia and New Zealand, Non Stop Entertainment for Scandinavia and the Baltics, Cineart for Benelux, Front Row for the Middle East, Strada Films for Greece and Cyprus, and EIM for airlines.  Sundance Selects took the film for North America and Artificial Eye for UK.

The film won the Europa Cinemas Label as Best European film in the Directors’ Fortnight and it will now receive the support of the network, with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors to extend the film’s run on screen.

Protagonist CEO Mike Goodridge said, “The buyer reaction to the film was spectacular and we have several further deals pending. The excitement around Clio and this stunning film was intense and we couldn’t be happier with the response from distributors, festivals and press.”

The Selfish Giant was produced by Tracy O’Riordan (Moonspun Films), with backing from the British Film Institute and Film4.

This is Barnard’s second feature, after the acclaimed The Arbor.